Spaceytracey, i can sympathize. i took my pony over her first jump in about a month, just a couple of small cross rails, but she decided it was incentive enough to try the run off and happy buck routine. Not too bad,all in all, but a little excitement I could have lived without.
The last couple of days we’ve had wonderfully warm weather, which is great for riding, but it also means great weather for all the barn neighbors to fire up their leaf blowers/chain saws/wood chippers…you get the picture. I don’t blame them, here in CT we’re all still cleaning up from that freak October snowstorm. But it gives us lots of reasons to work on teaching our horses to pay attention to us, doesn’t it?
The only thing that bothered my pony today was the barn neighbor trundling a wheelbarrow with a big blue tarp over it. And the man was wearing an orange shirt. Maybe, as a mare, she was just objecting to his poor color sense? But once he spoke with us, and she realized he was just a guy, we were able to get back to work.
Thank you!
Had a good thanksgiving, and kep thinking about this:
[QUOTE=OneGrayPony;5974740]
RRB, welcome. Unfortunately if you want anyone to talk sense into you, you have probably joined the wrong group snort.
…
[riding is] the only place that I actually am not fretting or worried or thinking of the million things that I’m not doing well enough. I realized that it’s a form of meditation for me…my brain literally focuses 100% on riding and it’s the only time that I am fully in the moment. That practice means good things for my business, for my attention to the children, for my husband. So what seems at first to be selfish, actually has many benefits to my family.
Or maybe I’m just really really really good at rationalization 
Anyway, I took a look at your webshots…and this picture stuck out to me - http://pets.webshots.com/photo/1107458069052732248lWcxBs
See that smile? You’re a mom, but you still have a right to wear that smile. It’s a beautiful smile, and one that I recognize.
Welcome to the group. Now get out there and take a lesson or ride your guy (if he’s willing). See the smile come back :)[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is the ability to completely clear my mind that I miss the most, so come the new year I will start barn research. After all, the best test of a Midwestern barn has to be the dead of winter, right?
If it’s all the same to you, I will enjoy your trials and tribulations until I can begin to share my own!
–R
Glad you had a good ride spacytracy – good luck next week.
I’m trying to decide if I should cancel my lesson tonight or not - I’m not sure if my allergies are going insane (hello, leaf mold!) or if I’m succumbing to the traditional Post-Thanksgiving Cold, but I’m feeling blah and sneezy and sinus-y and TIRED!
Last week’s lesson wasn’t spectacular - well, the left-lead cantering wasn’t - but I managed to have a great practice ride on Friday and had no canter issues, so I’ve been looking fwd to tonight’s lesson. But, feeling icky. And feeling icky will likely lead to bad riding. But I love my lessons.
Argh! I need my grandmother to pretend I’m 11 and decide for me 
Well, RPP, I’m too late to help you decide, but my rule of thumb is generally: head cold, ride, flu symptoms, stay home. I find that getting outdoors and moving around clears my head, at least for a while. The runny nose while you’re riding can be annoying, and I tend to give myself a pass on anything really difficult, if your instructor will go along with that.
Thanks, Hinderella - you’re not too late! And I’m leaning toward going and asking to take it easy - because you’re right, moving around often helps clear things up a bit.
RPP–go if you don’t feel too bad. Telling the instructor that you’re a little under the weather is probably a good idea, though.
I am very short on sleep, but I am going to the barn today. I can’t ride on Thursday this week (one of my usual riding days) because of work, so I am not going to miss today. Green mare has been very good lately.
spacytracy, good luck with the surgery.
Good luck spacytracy!
RolyPoly, I wish I could answer for you but since I have been known to ride despite a fractured tailbone and a separated shoulder (in a clinic, no less), I will say that I am possibly not the most “sensible” person when it comes to not riding.
jaslyn, can you get a video? My guy slowed down when he had a wither pinch. Now that he feels better he’s actually much more forward…but it SO depends on the horse.
I’ve been so proud of my crazy horse the last few days. He gave my DH some lovely lessons (although he looks at me as though I am possibly killing him) and cooperates so well for him, while still giving me lovely rides and hacks. He’s getting stronger and fitter, and can actually canter on the longe line without falling down (well, not literally).
I’m scheduling his move for hopefully next week! Yay!
Hi all, surg went well, all hopped up. First thing i asked was “did my trailer sell?” Followed by " did X come and do stalls?"
Trailer sold for full asking, and my barn girl had no troubles this am.
As for me. I hzve an epidural to help with pain. Have a 6" vertical incision 6 wk recovery. Wattching Roseanne marathon. A bit high
Rf
Yay spacytracy – thanks for the update. We were all hoping that the surgery went well. Hope they move you to one of those great PCA’s after the epidural. Great pain management tool!
6 weeks will fly by, and you will be caught up on years of TV!
spacytracy - glad all went well. Wishing you a speedy recovery!!
Onegraypony - sorry, no video. But, on Sunday I changed it up a bit - one square, foam, thinner half pad. While I had nice trots, there was not the lagging “oh what’s the point” trot from Saturday - he was much more forward, but gave me a much nicer trot - if that makes sense. I guess you have to know Finn and a couple of his quirks - i.e. - if all the other ponies are standing under the tree and I make him work - I get Mr. Pissy Pants - head to the outside; comes up with this really fast trot just to show how displeased he is.
So, on Sunday, he was sort of Mr. Pissy Pants - got the head crank, but his trot was nice and forward - no super fast - just nice and relaxed.
spacytracy- wishing you a very quick and easy recovery!! :winkgrin:
Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know surgery went well, had a small section of bowel resected that was narrowed down to a pinpoint. Sewn back up, and spent 4 days in the hospital. 7" vertical incision, and I get the staples out in about a week. Pain is ok, controlled somewhat by dilaudid, but obviously I’m moving more at home = more pain. Taking it easy but I did go down to the barn to check on the horses. Cleaned a stall (I KNOW!) and my TB needs the vet out for his snotty nose. Hopefully the vet doesn’t need much assistance because I don’t really want to get too close and risk getting hurt.
My new saddle came - seems to be a little too wide but I contacted County to see what adjustments can be made. I can’t get in the saddle to see so I might have a friend ride in it to see how much it compresses.
So glad you are better and home, however-DON’T clean a stall for 6 weeks. You would give your horse the prescribed time off, and now you need to take it easy, no fresh turnout for you !
Get better.
spacytracy, glad all went well, but please take it easy! Can’t someone else clean stalls for you for awhile?
Glad the surgery went well spacytracy and I’ll third the recommendation to take it easy!!!
Feel better soon spacytracy! Rest up and heal! 
I haven’t updated in over a week, and I have to rant and rave about my awesome lesson last week. The bending and responsiveness of Dash has improved so much (not because of me I’m sure), and she was doing so well for us on the flat at the walk/trot. It was a gorgeous day and my trainer let me jump her!! We went over a few verticals at like 2’-2’6" and she was SO excited! Some of the jumps were not so pretty (and one of them she went over with one foot trailing) but she definitely has a natural talent and we got some beautiful jumps out of her It was SO much fun as I haven’t jumped in forever, and my trainer told me that my base (leg/seat) is really good and she’s excited about it I feel like things are finally clicking! I ride tomorrow and she suggested doing pole work to help Dash figure out where her feet are and need to go.
Any suggestions for spacing poles?
I also have to rave about my new helmet. The IRH ATH is so great!! No more sweaty head! I also am SUPER impressed with the pair of low-rise pull-on TuffRiders I got for $30 (with shipping). Very comfortable! Thanks everyone for the recommendation. I like them as much as my $75 Ariat Heritage ones Hope everyone had a great weekend!
I’ll join the chorus and say “take it easy”. After all, you’ve just had the equivalent of colic surgery. You need to allow yourself to really heal. Winter is a great time to do that without feeling like you’re missing as much as you would in the summer.
Here in New England we were blessed with beautiful weather this weekend, so I got in two terrific rides on the pony. On Saturday my lesson included lots of jumps with crazy twist and turns on the course…tons of fun!
Spacytracy - I too will join the chorus of take it easy - even though I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
We all went to our local show association end of the year banquet - my barn got lots of awards. One of the things they do is have a drawing for buckets full of stuff - including certificates for $ off show fees for the next year. Most are $10 or so, but there is always one for $200. Well, yours truly won that one. So, guess I will have to pull my head out and show next season.
Gulp.
But, thanks to my trainer (who said time to pull my head out) and a very dear friend - I have had a sort of epiphany. My friend’s trainer said about her coming 6 yo tb - that she needed to quit babying him. Well. Finn will be 12 next year, and as much as I love him, time for me to start doing the same thing. I have no problem with correcting him on the ground - i.e. - the once a month “oh I forgot what I am supposed to do at the mounting block” followed by me backing and yelling. So, yesterday, as we passed the gossip tree, he tried to bulge and crank his head and I kicked the crap out of him with my outside leg. Don’t know what I was expecting - but what I got, was “yes ma’am”.
The adventure begins.
